No matter their cultural roots, scarecrows worldwide were conceived to perform a specific task: to frighten. Because crows walk along the ground to forage, looking for food in the top 2 inches of soil, crops are affected by their search for a meal. The hay-man was made to scare the birds away. Let’s get into the history of the scarecrow.
What is the Scarecrow?
Wikipedia describes the scarecrow as being a decoy, a mannequin usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops. Scarecrows are used across the world by farmers and are a notable symbol of farms and the countryside in popular culture.
Tradition
Sometimes bearing an animal skull or rotting produce, scarecrows were placed in fields in the Spring and were burned after the autumn harvest in celebration. Their ashes returning nutrients of potassium and nitrogen to the soil.
While traditional, motionless scarecrows do work against birds, the effect almost always temporary. Researchers have learned that those with realistic facial features are brightly colored clothes are slightly better at scaring away birds.
Scarecrows have been in existence for more than 3000 years. For every region, scarecrows have a different take.
Egypt
The Egyptians used the first scarecrows in recorded history to protect their vast fields along the Nile River from flocks of quail. It was a wooden form covered in nets.
Greece
In 2500 BC, Greek farmers carved wooden scarecrows ugly enough to scare the birds away from their vineyards, ensuring a good harvest.
Japan
Farmers in Japan dressed their scarecrows like people and had them wear raincoats and straw hats.
Germany
Scarecrows were wooden and made to look like witches in Germany.
Britain
Young children were used as scarecrows or “bird scarers” in Britain. They would patrol the fields of crops and scare away birds by waving their arms or throwing stones. This eventually led to farmers stuffing satchels with straw ad using painted gourds to make heads and faces to create “straw men.” They would lean them up against a pole to scare away the birds.
America
During the great depression, scarecrows could be found all across America. In the agri-business era after WWII, farmers sprayed and dusted their crops with chemicals like DDT until scientists discovered their harmful effects. To substitute for chemicals, some farmers-built scarecrows that revolve like windmills to scare away the birds.
10 facts about scarecrows
- First made by Egyptians
- Even though they have been around for over 3,000 years, more effective ways have been established to scare off birds.
- There is more to it than just how a scarecrow looks. Birds are scared off also because of the smell of humans that linger in the clothes of the scarecrow.
- Japanese farmers hung old rags, meat, and fish bones on their scarecrow creations. The smell itself was enough to keep not only birds away from their crops, but all creatures.
- There are dozens of scarecrow festivals every year. Some draw in up to 10,000 people.
- The most famous scarecrow is the fictional character in the Wizard of Oz whom is in search of a brain.
- The first known usage of the word scarecrow was in a novel written by Daniel Defoe in 1719, Robinson Crusoe.
- A winery in New York has used inflatable tube men as scarecrows.
- There is a tourist attraction in Canada called “Joe’s scarecrow village.” It is a roadside attraction featuring dozens of scarecrows.
- Nowadays, scarecrows are usually just used as a symbol for fall and harvest instead of practical use,
the history of the scarecrow conclusion
No matter their cultural roots, scarecrows worldwide were conceived to perform one specific task: to frighten. They have done that in many regions over the years. Now, the scarecrow is merely a decoration and a symbol for harvest and for Thanksgiving.
This has been the History of the Scarecrow.